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Author Topic: algae  (Read 601 times)
fish
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algae
« on: August 17, 2010, 11:22:58 AM »
I have a new tank that is going through the nitrogen cycle.  I'm about 1 and a half weeks into it and i have green algae on the glass and rocks of my tank.  I turn on the lights in the morning and turn them off at night when i go to bed.  Should i clean off the algae or leave it?  I don't want to disrupt the cycle.  Also, if i should clean it, how do i clean off the rocks?  Thanks!
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Summer Time
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Re: algae
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2010, 10:58:08 PM »
That seems really quick to be growing algae already.  I don't use lights on my tank so I am not sure if that contributes to algae growth or not.  Make sure the sun is not shining on your tank.

When you clean the rocks, only clean a portion of them each week, so that you don't kill all the good bacteria that is growing.
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2010, 11:07:40 PM »
My tank is in my room so there is no sun, am i giving it too much light?  Huh
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Nossie
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Re: algae
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2010, 03:11:13 AM »
Green algae are very good! Smiley Shows that your tank is healthy, and your fish love eating it!
So if I was you, I'd clean it off only on the front of the tank Smiley

But it would help if you'd tell me how long you've got the lights on every day, and how big your tank is, and how many fish you keep in it! Smiley
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2010, 09:49:55 PM »
The lights are on 10-12 hours a day, my tank is 20 gal. and it's still cycling  Grin
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creamkiller
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Re: algae
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2010, 11:51:34 PM »
what type of lights some are sronger then other goldfish do not need a strong light the light should be on 8 hours max.
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2010, 09:04:25 AM »
it's coralife, 65 watt, 10,000k

(one of the lights is 55 watts because we couldn't find a replacement 65)  I don't have fish in it yet - how long should i keep it on a day? (I plan to put guppies in it)  Smiley
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Nossie
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Re: algae
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2010, 09:44:27 AM »
I use to have mine 12-14 hours a day, no problem!
But I suggest that you try lessen the amount of time you keep it on by one hour per day until you find something suitable Smiley But generally 10-12 hours should be fine!

How's the cycling going? Cheesy
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2010, 03:53:16 PM »
good i think  Cheesy  Testing again today!

I was thinking i'd also put cories in it - my aunt who was a long time fish keeper said they do great with guppies - does anyone know how many should i get in a 20 gal. for them to be happy and to have enough space?  (I read they're schooling fish)   Grin
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #9 on: August 19, 2010, 04:17:13 PM »
wait - just clarifying - it wouldn't hurt the cycle if i cleaned the algae of the glass right?
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #10 on: August 19, 2010, 04:57:46 PM »
Cycle update:
Ammonia = o
Nitrite = 1-3
nitrate = 0
hardness = 25-75
chlorine = 0
alkalinity = 0
pH = 6.2 - 6.8

Is there anyway to raise the pH and the hardness?  I heard the guppies need hard water with a higher pH.
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Nossie
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Re: algae
« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2010, 04:08:42 AM »
Looking good! No, it wouldn't harm the cycle if you would remove the algae, but like I said, it's good to grow a little carpet of greens for your fish to graze Smiley

If I remember things right, you should try to keep about 4-6 corys in a tank Cheesy It depends on their size which species you can choose, there are some who grow only to be about 2 inches, and those who reach even 4, so check in some books! The three-stripe corydoras should be good though Smiley Then you can calculate how much space they'd take in your tank by taking 1 inch of body length per gallon of water.

Guppies are much smaller so you could count this one in centimeters, 1 cm of fish per 1 liter of water. Which would lead to one guppy needing about a gallon each.
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Nossie
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Re: algae
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2010, 04:09:40 AM »
Ah, right! You can make the water harder and more alkaline by adding some calcium rich rock to your tank. But if you want to keep corys at the same time, that should rather be avoided since they prefer softer water, and guppies can easily survive in both!
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2010, 10:43:14 AM »
ok thanks!  So i should leave my pH and hardness level the same?   Grin
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Nossie
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Re: algae
« Reply #14 on: August 20, 2010, 11:01:56 AM »
Yeah, it sounds pretty good like it is d:
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fish
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Re: algae
« Reply #15 on: August 20, 2010, 11:54:53 AM »
 Smiley  Sorry I'm asking so many questions lol, but i was thinking i'd get albino cories, would they work well?  My aunt also told me that bottom feeders don't count in the gallons because they swim at a different level, is this true?
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Nossie
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Re: algae
« Reply #16 on: August 20, 2010, 03:16:25 PM »
They should be perfectly fine! I've kept many of them myself, they're just the cutest Smiley

I do think that bottom dwellers count too, they produce waste and need space and oxygen just like other fish do. So do count them in Smiley And one thing, if you're worried about algae you could get some black mollies or some plecos/ancistrus catfish! Both deal with excess algae by eating it away and they have similar needs to the other fish you want Smiley The common ancistrus will grow to be "only" 8cm (4/5 in) so they should be just right, I'm keeping some of them along with the albino cories Smiley
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Mindemae
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Re: algae
« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2010, 12:09:00 PM »
Do you have any live plants in your tank?  If you don't I would strongly urge you to get some as they will compete with the algae for nitrates.  This will help keep the algae down too! Smiley
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Andrea
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Re: algae
« Reply #18 on: October 18, 2010, 02:12:26 AM »
I was having a bit of an algae problem, all this brown algae growing on the front bit of the tank, right where I try to few my fish  Angry I got it before it got too bad but I'm going to buy some more plants now Mindemae Smiley That's a good idea and I have a feeling this algae will come back if I don't do anything.
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